​[Lord, teach me] (Read time ≈ 4 minutes)
Luke 11:1 (ESV)
1Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
 
“Lord, teach us…” This is the posture we aught to have. Lord, teach me. We are so fast to do it. Go and do. Figure it out. Make a way. That we so quickly move forward without even once seeking the help of our Lord. Or we think we already have so much figured out. We think we know the way. We think our long time experience as a Christian will pull us through. Or we convince ourselves that if we just watch and observe all that is happening, we will pick up on the ways. The disciples had learned much from Christ and were continuing to learn from Him.
 
We can learn so much from such a simple phrase. “Lord, teach us.” We can try to go our way on our own. Or we can lean on Him. There is great revelation for you awaiting in the simple call to God in saying, “Lord, teach me.” This phrase speaks far more than three words. It is calling for instruction. But it also admits a need. It creates a vulnerability to Him. It is you, reaching beyond your natural understanding and asking for a supernatural impartation of His knowledge. We can watch and learn all we want. But when we say, “God, show me your ways!”, this is the way to personal revelation. As we desire to grow, we must ask our Lord how to grow. As we want to gain knowledge in the Word, we ask the Lord how. We want to love better, we ask Him. We want to understand, we ask Him. Are you continually in your life asking the Lord “how”? This week, ask Him how. How to apply this. How to learn that. How to understand. And just as He taught the disciples the pattern for prayer, He will teach you.
 
Lord, teach us your way for this day and this life.
Lord, teach us to desire Your understanding.
Lord, teach us to rely on you for all things.
Lord, teach us to be humble and seek Your guidance above all else.
Amen.
 

​Our Response to Pressure (Read time ≈ 4 minutes)
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
 
Life is full of pressure. Spiritual trials will have two effects on your life; make you or break you. Like many things in life, it is not about the circumstances you face, but HOW you faced them. You can be broken through “good times” just like bad times. The question is, do you have what it takes to endure the pressures of life. Pressure; it can burst pipes, or it can make diamonds. How will you respond to the pressures of life? Will you burst? Or will you be made into something good?
 
Proverbs 24:10 says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”. Are you feeling weak? Are you feeling like bursting? Are you feeling like “your strength is small”? Are you wondering, how can I “remain steadfast under trial”? How do I go from wanting to burst to becoming steady and firm like a diamond under pressure? The answer is found in your response to the pressures of life. Where do you turn for the strength to withstand? In your time of distress, call upon the Lord (Psalm 118:5)! And He will set you free! Free from the expectations of doing it on your own, free from the stress of it all, free from the unbearable pressure. And through that, He instills confidence in His ability to carry you through. You begin to believe, with God on your side, what can man do? You have no fear of the pressure (Psalm 118:6).
 
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him”. God does not only promise the reward for remaining steadfast, but He also promises the provision of strength to remain steadfast when we call upon His name and trust in Him. You cannot remain steadfast under trial if you attempt to remain steadfast under trial under your own strength. You are not strong enough on your own, and that's the point! We are strengthened when we admit our weakness and look to Him for strength (2 Corinthians 12:9) and our strength is found in the Lord. You cannot withstand the pressure of this life without the strength of the Lord within you. So, each day, we seek HIS strength, and we withstand the pressure and become a precocious jewel unto the Lord.
 
Thank you for reading! If you read this blog, then please leave a comment on the WhatsApp community post for this blog or leave a comment below simply saying “I read it!”.